MY 1'ST VOTE AND THE TERM THAT IS...

I tarried a little before I pressed the blue button. I moved ahead and pressed the blue button again on another machine. This time I thrust my thumb against the button for a little long and confident until the beep sound registered loud and clear, ringing in my ears and echoed in the room. I walked out of the room with glint in my eyes and a cognitive content to my heart and mind. I held my index finger of my left hand in pride to exhibit my nail that has been dotted black. Yes I’ve cast my first vote not waiting more than a year after I’ve come to age. At 19 years I stood a chance to participate in India’s 15’Th lok sabha elections. I made a choice over the governance of my state and my country for the next five years.

It’s been four months since the world’s largest democracy gyrated to enunciate the verdict of people. The black dot on my nail is on the verge of getting erased, and the curtain has been long drawn on the people making a prophecy about the democratic crown prince of India, and the winkles of television channels blaring with breaking news reporting the election circus. The jocular exploits of accusations and self appointed crusaders of humanity have all ebbed, when the elections marquee has been folded in and the election commission has decided to heave a sigh of relief.

The Indian National congress swept the floor of the parliament with a clear majority, and Dr Manmohan Singh was placed on the mantel as prime minister under the flagship of UPA government. Congress harked back to its lost sheen of yesteryears, and emerged as a government ,without having to take coalition tailspins. Thanks to the ‘aam admi’ ,and pro poor mandate of congress, it has galvanized itself to victory.

President Prathibha Patil has vocalized some path breaking measures that the government would do in the first 100 years of power, which was quite commendable, and would be really appreciated if things are set into motion, and emerge out of the papers. Global meltdown and recession asks for special focus on the economic policies of the country. The budget this year comes with more than 6% fiscal deficit, against the figures that register around 3% last year. Inclusive growth is talked about much in the budget, but the high fiscal deficit remains as a great concern. The flawed food security plan proposed is inadequate, and addresses only a pinch of population with limited utilities. The much talked about women’s bill was mooted in the parliament, and looks like it needs to take in some more rounds of battering on the anvil before a stance is taken on it. The sophian carnage in J&K has had the country to look up north, and people are waiting to see how the government does to mollify the ire of people there whose reaction to the incident has been rampant. The education bill which proclaims to bring every child under the umbrella of its services has been passed in the parliament, and all eyes are glued to witness how it materializes. The H1N1 virus moored on the Indian shores, and the pandemic has engulfed a sizable number in its clouds, and taken a toll of a 14 year old Pune girl’s life. The government is showing little gesticulations to handle the outbreak of the pandemic, though some measures have been employed. An eliciting proposal by the government to abolish the capital punishment has got mixed responses from people and concern is expressed from those who think that terrorists deserve no pardon.

Apart from the recession and budget, India’s foreign policy is the subject that is doing rounds in the noetic circles. The prime minister faces criticism of becoming liquescent in dealing with Pakistan. The phrase, “trust but verify” that Dr Manmohan Singh has popularized is not what most of the Indians think, is the veracious approach towards Pakistan, which is showing trivial effort in working towards deserving trust from India. The mammoth amount of money spent on purchasing used aircraft carriers from Russia is nothing but white elephant for India. The nuclear commitments of India with the US jeopardized our entire nuclear mission. The government failed to realize the ostensible intentions of the US to curb India’s growth, and walked into its obliterated clauses. India should wake up at least before it falls into the US radar before it commits itself to the end use monitoring (EUM) that was put forth by Hillary Clinton in her visit to India. The government should observe caution so as not to tangle the relations with Iran. We have to stick to out Non alignment vantage point without getting succumbed to the whims of US, and come forth in playing a responsible and significant role in the world policies. We have to realize, that we are sufficient enough to demand for our rightful bread, rather than live on crumbs thrown at us by the developed countries. The Copenhagen summit on climatic change is a platform where India could make its voice heard and nominate itself to a responsible persona on the stage of world politics.